Data communication network to provide network access data sets for user equipment selection of a wireless relay

Abstract

A data communication network to provide network access data sets for User Equipment (UE) selection of a wireless relay. The wireless relays transfer relay status data to a network control system. The network control system processes the relay status data to generate network access data sets for the wireless relays and transfers the individual network access data sets for delivery to the wireless relays. The wireless relays receive their individual network access data sets and wirelessly broadcast relay Long Term Evolution (LTE) System Information Blocks (SIBs) indicating their individual network access data sets. The wireless relays receive wireless UE attachments responsive to the relay LTE SIB broadcasts of the individual network access data sets.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of operating a wireless communication network to serve User Equipment (UEs), the method comprising:
 macrocell base stations wirelessly broadcasting a macro-relay Public Land Mobile Network Identifier (PLMN ID); 
 picocell relays attaching to the macrocell base stations responsive to the broadcast macro-relay PLMN ID; 
 the picocell relays wirelessly broadcasting a pico-relay PLMN ID; 
 femtocell relays attaching to the picocell relays responsive to the broadcast pico-relay PLMN ID; 
 the macrocell base stations wirelessly broadcasting a macro-UE PLMN ID wherein the UEs attach to the macrocell base station responsive to the broadcast macro-UE PLMN ID; 
 the picocell relays wirelessly broadcasting a pico-UE PLMN ID wherein the UEs attach to the picocell relays responsive to the broadcast pico-UE PLMN ID; and 
 the femtocell relays wirelessly broadcasting a femto-UE PLMN ID wherein the UEs attach to the femtocell relays responsive to the broadcast femto-UE PLMN ID. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 the macrocell base stations wirelessly broadcasting picocell data sets indicating the pico-relay PLMN ID and the pico-UE PLMN ID in Long Term Evolution (LTE) macrocell System Information Blocks (SIBs); 
 the macrocell base stations wirelessly broadcasting femto cell data sets indicating the femto-UE PLMN ID in the LTE macrocell SIBs; 
 the picocell relays wirelessly receiving the picocell data sets indicating the pico-relay PLMN ID and the pico-UE PLMN ID from the LTE macrocell SIBs; 
 the picocell relays wirelessly receiving the femtocell data sets indicating the femto-UE PLMN ID from the LTE macrocell SIBs; 
 the picocell relays wirelessly broadcasting the femtocell data sets indicating the femto-UE PLMN ID in LTE picocell SIBs; and 
 the femtocell relays wirelessly receiving the femtocell data sets indicating the femto-UE PLMN ID from the LTE picocell SIBs. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 the picocell relays wirelessly transferring picocell relay status data to a network control system and responsively wirelessly receiving picocell data sets indicating the pico-relay PLMN ID and the pico-UE PLMN ID; and 
 the femtocell relays wirelessly transferring femtocell relay status data to the network control system and responsively wirelessly receiving femtocell data sets indicating the femto-UE PLMN ID. 
 
     
     
       4. A wireless communication network to serve User Equipment (UEs), the wireless communication network comprising:
 macrocell base stations configured to wirelessly broadcast a macro-relay Public Land Mobile Network Identifier (PLMN ID); 
 picocell relays configured to attach to the macrocell base stations responsive to the broadcast macro-relay PLMN ID; 
 the picocell relays configured to wirelessly broadcast a pico-relay PLMN ID; 
 femtocell relays configured to attach to the picocell relays responsive to the broadcast pico-relay PLMN ID; 
 the macrocell base stations configured to wirelessly broadcast a macro-UE PLMN ID wherein the UEs are configured to attach to the macrocell base station responsive to the broadcast macro-UE PLMN ID; 
 the picocell relays configured to wirelessly broadcast a pico-UE PLMN ID wherein the UEs are configured to attach to the picocell relays responsive to the broadcast pico-UE PLMN ID; and 
 the femtocell relays configured to wirelessly broadcast a femto-UE PLMN ID wherein the UEs are configured to attach to the femtocell relays responsive to the broadcast femto-UE PLMN ID. 
 
     
     
       5. The wireless communication network of  claim 4  further comprising:
 the macrocell base stations are configured to wirelessly broadcast picocell data sets indicating the pico-relay PLMN ID and the pico-UE PLMN ID in Long Term Evolution (LTE) macrocell System Information Blocks (SIBs); 
 the macrocell base stations are configured to wirelessly broadcast femto cell data sets indicating the femto-UE PLMN ID in the LTE macrocell SIBs; 
 the picocell relays are configured to wirelessly receive the picocell data sets indicating the pico-relay PLMN ID and the pico-UE PLMN ID from the LTE macrocell SIBs; 
 the picocell relays are configured to wirelessly receive the femtocell data sets indicating the femto-UE PLMN ID from the LTE macrocell SIBs; 
 the picocell relays are configured to wirelessly broadcast the femtocell data sets indicating the femto-UE PLMN ID in LTE picocell SIBs; and 
 the femtocell relays are configured to wirelessly receive the femtocell data sets indicating the femto-UE PLMN ID from the LTE picocell SIBs. 
 
     
     
       6. The wireless communication network of  claim 4  further comprising:
 the picocell relays are configured to wirelessly transfer picocell relay status data to a network control system and responsively wirelessly receive picocell data sets indicating the pico-relay PLMN ID and the pico-UE PLMN ID; and 
 the femtocell relays are configured to wirelessly transfer femtocell relay status data to the network control system and responsively wirelessly receive femtocell data sets indicating the femto-UE PLMN ID.